Title: Poisonwood Bible Year of publication: 1998 Author: Barbara Kingsolver Author Bio: Barbara Kingsolver is a wonderful woman and author. She has written many books, including The Bean Trees, Homeland, and Animal Dreams. The following links will help give a better understanding of this amazing author Barbara Kingsolver Bio Barabar Kingsolver on Poisonwood Bible and Other Books More on Barbara Kingsolver Setting and time period: The setting of Poisonwood Bible is the Congo in 1959. The Price Family is going on a missionary trip to Africa Genre of Novel( Historial Fiction, Bildungsroman, etc): The genre of the novel The Poisonwood Bible, is Postcolonial Fiction. Postcolonialism Info Postcolonial Literature Theme statements (and "central questions"): Some major themes in the novel are, Colonialism, Western Cultural Aragance, Individuality, and the Diffrernces between Justice and Injustice. Colonialism Justice and injustice, individuality, and cultural arrogance are themes that each character endures during their missionary trip. They stop becoming one family and branch into individual people and they realize how cruel the world can be. Justice and injustice are discussed along with the realiziation of cruelty; each family member see how unfair life is. Primary characters (name/ relationships/ job/ key traits): Nathan Price- Father of the Price family. He is a very cold hearted man. The missionary trip only magnifies this trait. Orleanna Price- Mother of the Preice family. She loves her children more than anything. Her realtionship with her husband is not a good one. he is ver controlling of her. Some of the book will be writtten in her point of view Rachel Price- Oldest daughter of the Price family. She seems very high-maintenance, but after the missionary trip, she changes for the better. Leah Price- Second eldest daughter of the Price family. Twin. Embraces theCongolese life while on the missionary trip. Falls in love with Anatole and marries him. Adah Price- Third eldest daughter of the Price family. Twin of Leah. Does her own thing. She also embraces the Congolese way of life because of her laid back attitude. She is believed to be handicapped due to a birth defect. She is smarter than what she is given credit for. Ruth May Price- Youngest daughter of the Price family. She embraces the Conoglese way of life and is very comfortable living that way, because she's so young. despite this, she goes through a lot.
Secondary characters (brief identifications): Anatole- Congolese man who befriends the Price family. He brings them food and helps them while they are on the missionary trip. He eventually falls in love with Leah and marries her. Notable structural, literary and stylistic techniques: Bibilical references, personification, anecdotes, oxymorons, Symbols: Methuselah the African parrot represents life in the Congo and serves as a biblical reference. Methuselah is refered to in the Bible as the oldest man living past the age of 300. The birds short life forshadows the life of the Congo coming to an end. Tone:The tone of this novel changes with each charater. Orleanna presents a sadened tone, Rachel presents a resentful tone, Leah presents an accepting humble tone, Adah presents a intelectual and sophisticated tone, and Ruth May presents a comic tone to brighten up the story line. Major conflicts (in abstract terms, with resolutions): The Missionary trip, Ruth May's death, Key scenes (turning points, resolutions, climaxes--inc. page #'s): Ruth May's death in book 4. Key quotations (annotate: identify speaker, situation, and relevance--inc. page #'s): Orleanna Price- "Be careful. Later on you'll have to decide what sympathy they deserve." Quotes and explinations Your reactions/ reader responses (note personal reactions to any of the above categories, or any other element of the reading experience): I loved this book. It was an eye opening piece that exposed the the way we as a culture see other cultures. The powerful story behind the main poin of of the novel gives it a more personal effect and allows readers to become connnected with each character. I highly recommend reading this book!
Year of publication: 1998
Author: Barbara Kingsolver
Author Bio: Barbara Kingsolver is a wonderful woman and author. She has written many books, including The Bean Trees, Homeland, and Animal Dreams. The following links will help give a better
understanding of this amazing author
Barbara Kingsolver Bio
Barabar Kingsolver on Poisonwood Bible and Other Books
More on Barbara Kingsolver
Setting and time period: The setting of Poisonwood Bible is the Congo in 1959. The Price Family is going on a missionary trip to Africa
Genre of Novel( Historial Fiction, Bildungsroman, etc): The genre of the novel The Poisonwood Bible, is Postcolonial Fiction.
Postcolonialism Info
Postcolonial Literature
Theme statements (and "central questions"): Some major themes in the novel are, Colonialism, Western Cultural Aragance, Individuality, and the Diffrernces between Justice and Injustice.
Colonialism
Justice and injustice, individuality, and cultural arrogance are themes that each character endures during their missionary trip. They stop becoming one family and branch into individual people and they realize how cruel the world can be. Justice and injustice are discussed along with the realiziation of cruelty; each family member see how unfair life is.
Primary characters (name/ relationships/ job/ key traits):
Nathan Price- Father of the Price family. He is a very cold hearted man. The missionary trip only magnifies this trait.
Orleanna Price- Mother of the Preice family. She loves her children more than anything. Her realtionship with her husband is not a good one. he is ver controlling of her. Some of the book will be writtten in her point of view
Rachel Price- Oldest daughter of the Price family. She seems very high-maintenance, but after the missionary trip, she changes for the better.
Leah Price- Second eldest daughter of the Price family. Twin. Embraces theCongolese life while on the missionary trip. Falls in love with Anatole and marries him.
Adah Price- Third eldest daughter of the Price family. Twin of Leah. Does her own thing. She also embraces the Congolese way of life because of her laid back attitude. She is believed to be handicapped due to a birth defect. She is smarter than what she is given credit for.
Ruth May Price- Youngest daughter of the Price family. She embraces the Conoglese way of life and is very comfortable living that way, because she's so young. despite this, she goes through a lot.
Secondary characters (brief identifications):
Anatole- Congolese man who befriends the Price family. He brings them food and helps them while they are on the missionary trip. He eventually falls in love with Leah and marries her.
Notable structural, literary and stylistic techniques: Bibilical references, personification, anecdotes, oxymorons,
Symbols: Methuselah the African parrot represents life in the Congo and serves as a biblical reference. Methuselah is refered to in the Bible as the oldest man living past the age of 300. The birds short life forshadows the life of the Congo coming to an end.
Tone:The tone of this novel changes with each charater. Orleanna presents a sadened tone, Rachel presents a resentful tone, Leah presents an accepting humble tone, Adah presents a intelectual and sophisticated tone, and Ruth May presents a comic tone to brighten up the story line.
Major conflicts (in abstract terms, with resolutions): The Missionary trip, Ruth May's death,
Key scenes (turning points, resolutions, climaxes--inc. page #'s): Ruth May's death in book 4.
Key quotations (annotate: identify speaker, situation, and relevance--inc. page #'s):
Orleanna Price- "Be careful. Later on you'll have to decide what sympathy they deserve."
Quotes and explinations
Your reactions/ reader responses (note personal reactions to any of the above categories, or any other element of the reading experience):
I loved this book. It was an eye opening piece that exposed the the way we as a culture see other cultures. The powerful story behind the main poin of of the novel gives it a more personal effect and allows readers to become connnected with each character. I highly recommend reading this book!